Rite-Aid manager attacked during robbery

Two suspects were arrested Tuesday after allegedly attacking an employee at Rite-Aid while trying to steal two televisions, the Ukiah Police Department reported.

According to the UPD, the manager of the store at 680 South State Street reported at 7:15 a.m. Jan. 8 that a man assaulted him after taking two, 32-inch TVs out of the store.

The 55-year-old manager said he saw the first suspect, identified as Juan E. Vera, 32, of Sonoma County, select two, $300 TVs from the front of the store and walk past him and out of the store without attempting to pay for them.

When the manager followed him outside and confronted him, Vera allegedly hit him with one of the TVs, then dropped them and threw the manager to the ground.

When the victim got up, Vera reportedly punched him in the head, then put one of the TVs in a silver Mazda reportedly being driven by Samantha L. Green, 21, of Ukiah, that was waiting in the store parking lot. Green then drove away and Vera fled on foot.

When officers responded to the area, they located Green in the Mazda in the 700 block of South Dora Street and arrested her.

Officers spotted Vera running near S. Dora and Gobbi streets, and chased him to the 800 block of South Oak Street. After a struggle, Vera was placed under arrest. Both the store manager and one officer reportedly received minor injuries from altercations with Vera.

Both Vera and Green were booked into Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of robbery, burglary, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and violating probation. They are being held without bail.